5 Most Hated Selling Strategies

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Let’s get real, not everyone wants someone doing a sales pitch at them. What’s even worse is getting sold something when you simply want to spend some quiet time alone or with your family. Chances are when you are approached by a sales person who is relentless with his sales pitch; you’ll most likely not buy from that person.

So for all those “sales professionals’ out there – take note of the quotation marks, here are the five least appreciated selling strategies being use today.

1. Ambush sales strategies

Ok, so you’re walking on the street or in a mall and then suddenly a stranger comes up to you with a big smile on his face. Suspicious – you bet! Before you can even react to the pearly whites in front of you a stack of marketing collaterals are shoved up your face. As you try to politely say thank you (with the hope of moving on), the guy starts blurting our spiels and sales pitches. Nod if this has happened to you.

Don’t get me wrong, flyers are great way to advertise a product or service. Here’s the problem with sales people using this technique: they try to close the sale with a flyer. When you dish out flyers you simply give headlines and not the entire sales manual of the company. Just to reiterate, you won’t close a sale this way!

Stick to the basic information as you distribute the flyers. All they need to know are important information – the company’s name, product or services, your name. You may want to inject some call to action in the end by asking to visit your site or give you a call.

2. Unannounced sales visits

It’s surprising how many people try to evade sales people visiting their homes or offices. It’s sort of a cat and mouse dance where you try to dodge any appointments while the sales person try to corner you in your home or office. What’s even irritating is when “sales professionals” – there’s the quotation marks again drop by unannounced or without any appointment.

The I-was-in-the-area-and-thought-of dropping-by-to-see-how-you’re-doing spiel is not really appreciated. Call in advance so you can schedule an appointment properly. If you’re aiming for thoughtfulness with this strategy then you’re a mile off! Always assume that clients have a busy schedule even if they simply spend their time updating their profiles and statuses on the net. An appointment shows you value their time and that you are professional – minus the quotation marks.

3. Junk mail and spam

This is a very controversial issue as everyone hates it but still gets it. Spam for the old timers may simply mean dinner in a can. But for the internet-dependent Homo sapiens out there, it’s a waste of email space. Advertising, promos, affiliate marketing offers and other e-mails that you are not interested in just keeps on piling up.

As a sales professional, you should be wary of the materials that you email to your clients. Is the information relevant to them? Will they be interested or simply delete them without opening the email? Are the emails seen as junk or not? Be kind enough to send sensible mail to your clients.

So before you click send consider how your client will see you if you send a list of 10 hottest chicks in America with a discounted subscription of OH Mama Magazine (not a real magazine just in case you’re wondering).

4. You Win Strategy

I recently got a text message that I was a home partner and won a car or the equivalent in cash. Of course that made my heart skip a beat or two. Suffice to say, it’s not really what I expected it to be. It’s just another sales campaign to lure me into buying something.

Let’s face it anyone will turn their heads if they think they won something. Come on, it’s a new car, everybody wants a new car. The strategy worked if it merely wanted to get my attention. But did it earn my trust? Not by a long shot! What’s frustrating is that this strategy is used by many.

A sales strategy that works is one with trust as a foundation for the relationship. Yes, the sales-client interaction is a relationship that requires continues nurturing. Just imagine starting your relationship with a lie. It’s just nasty!

Here’s my message to the unsuspecting client: if you did not join any game, you won’t win anything. For those sales people who use this technique: shame on you.

5. Broken promises and heart aches

OK, this is not some high school promise of love with a heart broken for an ending. But it really comes close though. It is just overwhelming what people will offer and promise you just to get a meeting or a closed sale. Whether it’s a freebie or just a call or e-mail, clients expects that you deliver on your promise. Unfortunately there are those who intentionally mislead people.

Here’s the distilled version: If you can’t deliver your promises, don’t promise at all! Perhaps that sums it up. But it’s still perplexing why many go out of their way to lie and to put false hopes. Are they that desperate to get a sale? For some, the answer is yes. For others they jus don’t know any better.

All these 5 I know intimately. For one, I have the first hand experience of these dismal strategies. But more importantly I train sales people not to fall for these misguided techniques.

In retrospect, selling is about building a relationship with a client. Trust is important as well as professionalism. The ultimate question is how much are you willing put on the line to get a sale? People don’t really like being sold to. Rather, they want someone who can guide them in making a decision. Turning away from these 5 most hated sales strategies will definitely turn sales individuals into respectable professionals.

So which customer service and selling fails have you experienced lately?

Comments 31 comments

Thanks Khaila. I hope you and your friends can pick up a thing or two on selling strategies. Also, tell me what other topics you want to read about. I'll be more than happy to give it a go.

raeye 5 years ago

also hate telemarketing strategies. there should just be expos about different sort of businesses so there's already a target market... like wedding expos.

jpcmc 5 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

I have my share of dismal telemarketing experiences as well. I know how you feel.

chamilj 5 years ago from Sri Lanka

You are 100% correct jpcmc I too hate these selling Strategies. Voted up!

jpcmc 5 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Thanks for you comment Chamilj. The question now is what do we do about it?

Linda Myshrall 5 years ago

What a great hub. You named every irritating tactic that is used to hustle people, then followed with sales strategies that do work... this will be a great tool for someone who is learning the ropes of selling.

jpcmc 5 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

I appreciate your comment Linda Myshrall. It's just frustrating how sales people use these techniques. If you've experienced one of these then welcome to the club. I do hope my hub reaches the right people so they can help become part of the change.

anusha15 5 years ago from Delhi, India

A nicely written article, voted up.

jpcmc 5 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Thanks for reading the hub anusha15. I hope I can write other hubs that you and other hubbers can appreciate.

Arthur King 5 years ago

Interesting. I'm unfortunate enough to experience all these.

jpcmc 5 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi Arthur. I'm glad you were able to follow me on hubpages. Yes, I know how dismal the experience can be.

cheerfulnuts 5 years ago from Manila, Philippines

All "sales professionals" should read this! A vote up! =)

jpcmc 5 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Thanks for the vote up cheerfulnuts. I do hope it reaches them in time before they lose another customer.

susanm23b 4 years ago

Wow! You have really covered all of the bad ones. I think pretty much everyone has experienced these at one time or another--you would think sales people would stop using them. I really like what you said about don't make a promise you can't keep! That seems to be so common these days. I guess it makes me sound old if I say I don't think it used to be that way :D

Excellent hub! Voted up!

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hello susanm23b. I've been a victim to all of these. And sad to say, i used to do some of them - not proud of it. But i just want to emphasize that it's not too late for sales professionals to start acting professionally.

Thanks for sharing.

urmilashukla23 4 years ago from Rancho Cucamonga,CA, USA

Well said and nicely written hub. Thanks for sharing it.Voted up

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Thanks urmilashukla23. I appreciate the kind words and the vote up.

yougotme 4 years ago from Manila

I think #4 is really annoying, and really prevalent here in our homeland. It's really mean for them to trick you with that, especially when they do it to people who are gullible. It often leads them to disappointment.

Great insights jpcmc!

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi there yougotme,

I get lots of text messages that I won something. It's really annoying. There are email scams as well that require you to pay a certain amount, A hangling fee or some legal lfee in order for you to get a large sum of money. It's just nasty! Let's just hope no other person gets lured to these strategies. Thanks for dropping by.

Lisas-thoughts101 4 years ago from Northeast Texas

It would give sales people a whole new name if these strategies were wiped out. I think we would stop hanging up on telemarketers, but then maybe there wouldn't be telemarketers :) if all these strategies were gone. Great hub. Voted up.

Lisa

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi there Lisas-thoughts101,

If these sales strategies were gone where's the fun in hanging up on telemarketers LOL. But these sales techniques do frustrate me. I'm sure others hate it as well. Thanks for the vote up. :) see yo arouns.

Anjili 4 years ago from planet earth, a humanoid

Thanks jpcmc for your campaign against unorthodox modes of conducting trade. I hope more of us will refrain from using these practices. Keep up with it. It is indeed an eye opener when mentioned by you.

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi Anjili,

Unfortuinately many still practice these strategies. Perhaps they were trained this way or were exposed to the same kind of treatment by others. regardless of the reason, proper selling strategies must be employed to ensure sales success. Also, it helps strengthen customer relationships. I appreciate your comments. Thanks for dropping by. See you around.

carol7777 4 years ago from Arizona

Great hub and there are those very demanding sales people out there. I do think you have to be driven to do well..just more gentle.

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi Carol, true,being gentle is important. Although the selling scene can be tough, sales people must learn to control themselves.

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi VibrantViews,

Do share them.

Charlee Wright 4 years ago from Vancouver, Washington

I agree with all of the above. Recently someone walked up to my gate and said I could pay just $10 for oil changes, as long as I bought 8 as a package. Translation, give cash or check to the random person that just showed up in exchange for "coupons" that were black and white and printed on standard stock paper. Then he became belligerent when I said I would pass! Hopefully some 'sales' folks read your hub, they could use the advice

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi Charlee Wright,

What a sales spiel! But some still fall prey to these types of sales strategies. Consumers can easily be distracted by BIG Savings when in fact they are not. Some sales models even let the customers do the selling for them. It's not a perfect world, but it does not have to be too dismal. Thanks for dropping by and sharing.

annerivendell 4 years ago from Dublin, Ireland

Great Hub. I've been followed down the street by the flyer pushers trying to sell me timeshare. One guy got very insulted when I finally lost it and was rude to him. (It's against my principles to be rude to anyone but he just would not go away). Love reading your hubs!

jpcmc 4 years ago from Quezon CIty, Phlippines Author

Hi annerivendell,

I know how annoying it can get. Sometimes sales people just don'tkow when to stop. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I hope it did not happen again. :)